What happens when you tell people that Canberra Men's Centre is going to start writing a blog about men? At the very least, you get some interesting insights into the various ways people think about who we are, our place in the world and what our priorities ought to be.
For some, it will probably be a place to talk about all the things that men need to change - violence to women, inadequacies as parents or partners, poor diet, drinking habits, not doing enough housework... depending on who you talk to, it's either a very enthusiastic 'An excellent idea, and about time too!' or 'Not more man-bashing. Just what we need!' with soundtrack consisting mostly of groaning and sighing.
Then there's the health and lifestyle brigade, who expect it will be full of information about prostate cancer screening, healthy family recipes for when it's dad's turn to cook, gut-busting exercises for the perfect six-pack, perhaps an advice column for men on how to put some sparkle back into those tired relationships, reviews of recently released moisturisers and hair products, and other life-affirming priorities for the modern man.
Some people expect it to be full of grievances and resentment directed at women. You know - feminist conspiracies, no-fault divorce, the Child Support Agency...and don't get me started on the Family Court. Hmmm, good advice. Let's move on.
Others anticipate something devoted to the family man - warm fuzzy pictures of dads playing with their children, walking with them on the beach on summer holidays, wearing funny hats at their birthday parties, putting bandaids on their cuts and bruises. Reminding us all that dads are important too.
And there's always a few, bless 'em, who yearn for the halcyon days of the SNAG (trivia test for the younger reader). They'll be looking for quotations from the poetry of Iron John, tree-hugging, drumming weekends for fathers and sons, essays on alternative masculinities...
Well, we may touch on these subjects from time to time, as events around the globe or locally demand. And we may do requests. But mostly it will be us talking about what's on our minds from one post to the next - a story sparked by a client's recent experience, an encounter with someone from another organisation or a conversation with friends at a barbecue. And at the heart of it all will be men - the good, the bad and the ugly. Not just our love of old Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, but all of it - the diversity and the humanity of our lives and our experience.
Greg AldridgeDirector Men's Centre
